To resolve a long audio mystery, it turns out that Don's lone 1914 recording--A Perfect Day, which we're about to hear--isn't country. I always figured it wouldn't be, but couldn't be sure until I got my paws on the 78, which I finally did. Luckily, I handled it by the edges, avoiding any disc digs. (Paws can be murder on record grooves.)
Click here to hear: A Perfect Day--"Don" Richardson's Orch. (Col. A-5644)
(Click 4Shared's "Download" button--ignoring the blue button--and then click "Free Download.")
Meanwhile, Bob Morritt, my cyber-friend and fellow Don Richardson devotee, has a book and video promo worth checking out.
The video: Youtube trailer.
The book: Rockin' in the Desert.
I'm eager to find out Bob's reaction to A Perfect Day, which I find very interesting as pre-1920s society orchestra music (a category few of us have even considered the existence of).
Lee
3 comments:
Lee, do please let us know what Bob has to say about this recording!
Listening to it right now (by the way, sir, thanks!!), I hear - one, two, three; one, two, three - the waltz sound... but what I can make out of the strings doesn't exactly suggest huskin's 'n hoedowns, so much as tuxes, tiny collars, and full skirts.
Theory: someone somewhen heard it described as an "old country melody"... not realizing the expert had said "Old-Country tune", meaning very late Belle Époque at a veddy-veddy UK event... in the Old Country?
Not serious, of course - so Monsieur Morritt's spin (so to speak) on that platter would be most interesting.
Kind regards,
Aging Child
Bob hopes all copies of this disc vanish from the face of the planet. Otherwise, he loves it. (-:
I'm paraphrasing his review. He points out that Richardson, whom he considers a rustic musician, had to play legit stuff (my phrase) to make a living. Which is absolutely true, imo.
Unlike Bob, I sort of like this side.
The only reason this 1914 side was suspected of being country is because of Don Richardson's amazingly country 1916 sides for the label (Columbia). Myself, I couldn't picture a country version of "A Perfect Day," and I'd read that Don led a society orch., so I figured that's what we'd hear here. (Hear here?) My instincts were right, as they often are when it comes to sound recordings. Otherwise, my instincts are pretty hit and miss.
I'm searching for a CD I recently ripped of Richardson and some other early country 78s--they were my best rips, ever. I hope the disc is still around, since the material died with my previous hard drive when it crashed.
The digitalized material, I mean. I still have the original 78s.
(I think it's time to hit the sack and refresh my cyber-addled brain.)
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